1.WHAT DO I HOPE TO ACHIEVE BY THIS VISIT?
You are to call on a person or persons who are members of this congregation. They are not particularly unfaithful in their attendance, but they seemingly lack a sense of “belongingness”. They are not well acquainted with many members and, consequently, are not as much a part of the group as they need to be.
Your visit s purpose will be to become more intimately acquainted with them and to help them enlarge their interest in other members of the Church. Christians need this mutual care and interest one for the other. They need to receive it and they need to manifest it. (Read Acts 2:46, 4:32)
2.SHOULD I TELEPHONE BEFORE GOING?
There is nothing wrong with Just dropping by without advance notice in some instances. However, it might be better to work out something with them in advance, either by telephone or at services. This is a situation where you might plan to do something with them such as attend a special service or gospel meeting at another congregation, or go out together for dinner; attend a concert or sports event together where there are common interests. You might invite them, to your home for dinner. An informal atmosphere is preferred even if you decide to visit them in their home.
3.WHEN SHOULD I GO?
The nature of your visit with them will help determine this. In the event it is one person rather than a couple you are to contact, you might prefer to go by or arrange to be with them in the afternoon. Especially is this true in the case of women who do not work outside the home. You might even invite them to go with you to call on another member. This would meet effectively the purpose of your call.
4.SHOULD I GO ALONE?
If it is one person you are contacting, you may prefer to go alone. Though it would be all right to take another member with you. If it is a couple you are contacting then it would be desirable for a couple to call.
5.WHAT SHALL I DO WHEN I GET THERE?
If you have made previous arrangements, they will be expecting you. Otherwise, if you stop by without advance notice, greet them and make sure they know you are from the Church.
6.WHAT SHALL I TALK ABOUT?
Try to discover things in which you have a common interest. i.e. hobbies, jobs, families, etc. Visit informally and become better acquainted. Show an interest in the members of the family and try to establish a congenial relationship with them if possible. Allude to various members of the congregation in the course of your conversation and help the contact to know them better and to have more interest in them.
7.SHOULD I LEAVE ANY WRITTEN MATERIAL?
There isn’t any written material, which would be particularly appropriate here.
8.HOW LONG SHOULD I STAY?
The type of arrangement you made in advance if you did so wi1l largely determine the time involved. (See answer to question 2.) Try to make the time as friendly and pleasant as possible.
If you did not make advance arrangements but decided to drop by, allow their response to your visit and the flow of conversation to serve as guides. (An hour is probably long enough under most such circumstances.)
9.WHAT ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD I MAKE BEFORE LEAVING?
Encourage them to attend any week day services they may be missing. Perhaps you might make tentative plans to be with them again the near future if you seem to have established a congenial relationship.
10. WHAT SHOULD I REPORT?
Give the date and time of your visit on the back of your contact notice. Indicate the nature of your reception whether they seemed to appreciate your interest. If you have any suggestions that might be helpful in assisting them further along these lines, note that also. File the report with the elders / at the building.
11. HOW WILL THIS REPORT BE USED?
If others can assist in helping to integrate this contact more closely into the fellowship of the congregation, your report will be helpful in determining who might help and how.
The contact will also be added to the record of contacts for your zone.
12. AM I THROUGH WITH THIS CONTACT AFTER THE ONE VISIT?
Take special note of them at the services for the next several weeks. Visit with them and be instrumental in bringing them into informal conversations after the services. Introduce them to those they do not know.
You might plan a small, informal gathering in your home of some the members and include the contact. Encourage other members to show more interest in them. It may assist in keeping the contact from growing indifferent toward his relationship with the Lord’s work, for we all need the vital strengthening we can lend each other.
